Straight line caser and method



Sept. 8, 1959 Filed Sept. 27, 1957 L. M GIHON STRAIGHT LINE CASER AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

LE ONA/PD M G/HON Sept. 8, 1959 L. M GIHON STRAIGHT LINE CASER AND METHOD 3 Sheets5heet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1957 INVENTOR. LEONARD MEG/HON A T TORNE STRAIGHT LINE CASER AND METHOD Leonard McGihon, San Leandro, Calif., assignor to King Sales & Engineering Co., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application September 27, 1957, Serial No. 686,749

3 Claims. (Cl. 53-374) The present invention relates to the casing of containers such as bottles, cans and the like, and is concerned more particularly with a casing machine and method in which the closing of the flaps of the case is performed during movement of the case and the containers along a linear path.

The prior known methods of easing containers, the problem of closing the four flaps which, when open, extend in four directions from the case, has been solved by first closing the pair of opposite flaps which extend laterally from the case with respect to the line of travel, and thereafter re-orienting the case to place the other pair of flaps in a laterally extending position. Casing machines operating in accordance with this prior practice have either required the stopping of the case and providing a means for rotating it through 90 degrees or have two paths of travel for the case extending in directions at 90 degrees with respect to each other. These mechanisms have resulted in expensive casing machines.

It is a general object of this present invention to provide a casing machine and method in which the folding of all four flaps of the case is performed without changing the orientation of the case with respect to its line of travel and which can be installed in practically any plant where existing lines are located in adjacent parallel relationship.

United States Patent It is another object of the invention to provide a casing machine in which the open pair of flaps extending in the direction of the linear path of travel of the case can both be moved to closed position without changing the orientation of the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a casing machine and method in which the operation of closing the flaps, both those extending in the direction of travel of the case and those extending laterally of the direction of travel can be performed with the case placed over the containers in an inverted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be i' apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a casing machine employing the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the casing machine. Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the casing machine illustrating the mechanism for separating containers such as bottles, to receive the partitions of the case.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the easing machine taken as illustrated by the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the container in Figure 1, and illustrating a slightly differentarrange- I ment of the cases in the mechanism.

Patented Sept. 8, 1959 Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the case 32 being propelled by the bar 77 of the conveyor 76 and supported above the roller 67a on the bottom conveyor 67.

Figure 8 is a view generally similar to Figure 4 and showing the rearward flap 62a having been caught between the rollers 67a and being moved forwardly about its hinge line, the case being progressed by the bottom conveyor 67 into engagement with another roller 77 o the overhead conveyor 76.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and'8 and illustrating the folding of a rearward flap 62 in its position 62b where it is underlying the bottles or containers 21 in the case 32.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the casing machine includes a suitable frame structure 10 supported by legs 11, and on this frame 10 there is provided a single to multiple file container dividing mechanism 16, a means 17 for forming a case array of containers for reception of a case thereover in inverted position, a first flap closing mechanism 18 which moved the leading and trailing flaps from their open to their closed positions, and a second flap closing mechanism 19 for moving the laterally extending flaps of the case from their open to their closed positions. The single to multiple file distributing mechanism 1-6 is of a conventional form and is of the type shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 547,269, filed November 16, 1955, now U.S. Patent No. 2,835,375.

In general, the operation of the container divider mechanism 16 serves to separate a single file of containers 21 into three parallel files on respective belt conveyors 22, 23, and 24, which receive their drive in a suitable manner, as for example, by a chain and sprocket drive 26. Suitable dividers 27 serve to maintain the parallel file relation of the containers as they are discharged from the conveyors over a dead plate 28 and onto a series of spaced-apart supporting plates 29, 30 and 31.

Means are provided for picking up the required number of bottles and for effecting spacing of the bottles apart at the time of pick-up and for conveying the bottles along in spaced relation in a case array. Means are also provided for separating the case arrays on the supporting plates 29-31 so that there is room provided on either side of a case array for the extending flaps of a case 32 when placed thereover in inverted position as seen, for example, in Figure 4. This bottle separating mechanism takes the form of three identical chains 36 (Figures 3, 4 and 6) which, at spaced links, are provided with an upstanding support lug 37 (Figure 5) to which is pivotally secured a container or bottle separating finger 38. The finger 38 has a bottom portion 39 extending along and supported on the cooperating chain 36 while traveling along the upper stretch of the conveyor. This upper stretch of the conveyor is supported by a rail 41 and adjacent to the rail 41 there is provided a second angle-shaped rail 42 for engagement by a stabilizing plate 43 secured to the extended bottom portion of the finger 38.

As seen in Figure 4 at the right hand portion of the view, a series of four fingers 38 are engaged in driving and spacing relation with respect to four containers 21. As seen in the left hand portion of Figure 4, a second series of fingers 38 are traveling around the feed and sprocket 46. These sprockets 46 are carried by a transverse shaft 47. Suitable drive sprockets 48 (Figure 2) are provided on a shaft 49 and are driven through a chain 51 from a variable speed motor 52.

Referring again to the left hand portion of 54, (Figure 4) each of the fingers 38 is spaced to come up between a pair of adjacent containers 21 in the space at the sides thereof provided by the rounded contour of the containers so that as each finger 38 arrives at its upper position to travel along the upper stretch, it has advanced the container 21 associated therewith a space from the fol containers 21 therein. 'by the flap 62 and shoved further into the case by this lowing container so as to receive a partition 50 of the case 32.

In order to maintain the'space between groups of bottles, there is provided a transverse series of stop fingers 53 (Figures 3' and-4) secured on a transverse -shaft54.

The shaft 54 also carries an arm 55 having aroller 56 in position for pick-up by a succeeding group of fingers After the case array of bottles or other containers has been grouped and separated, an inverted case 32 is placed thereover as shown in Figure 4, and is pushed down to a point determined by the side rails 27, which is sufficient for engagement of the bottles in the case to move therewith as a unit. It will be noted that this position of the case with respect to the supporting surface for the bottles allows the leading flap 61 to move downwardly as it passes off the end of the rail 27 (Figure 4) under the resiliency of its hinge connection to the case 32, and the trailing flap 62 will correspondingly hinge down after it passes ofi of the rails '27.

From the position of the case with the bottles therein, as shown at the right of Figure 4, this case with the containers therein is advanced by the fingers 38 into the mechanism 18 for closing the flaps 61 and 62 which extend in the line of the linear path of travel of the bottles. and the case. Referring to Figure 6, this casing mechanism includes a first dead plate 66 and a lower roller type conveyor 67 trained about respective driving sprockets 68 and idler sprockets 69, and driven through a suitable chain connection 71 from the motor 52. This conveyor 67, as will be explained later, provides means for closing the trailing flaps 62.

Also associated with the firs-t flap closing mechanism 18 is an overhead conveyor 76 (Figures 2 and 6) comprising a pair of opposite chains provided with spaced case propelling bars 77, and trained about respective vertically spread sprockets 7S and 79 at its left end and similarly spaced sprockets 81 and 82 at its right end. The upper set of sprockets 81 and their supporting shaft 83 are driven by a suitable chain and sprocket connection from a motor 84 (Figures 1 and 2). The vertical spacing of the pairs of end sprockets 78 and 79 and 81 and 82 providing a substantially rectangular path of travel for the propelling bars, 77,: with an idle upper stretch and active lower stretch.

As seen in Figure 6, after a case has been introduced into the first flap closing mechanism 18 it is engaged by a propelling bar 77 and started along its travel, and the containers therein also become supported on the spaced apart supporting rollers 67a for the conveyor mechanism 67. This conveyor mechanism 67 is preferably driven to provide a faster speed of advance of its rollers 67a than the advance of the propelling bars 77 of the overhead conveyor 76.

The case 32 shown at the left of Figure 6 is being propelled by one of the bars 77, and the rollers 67 are sliding idly past the containers. When the rear flap 62 (Figures 6 and 7) of the case 32 moves oif of the rails 27 due to its spring urged action, it falls betweena pair of the rollers 67a (Figure 8) and is advanced from the position shown'at 62a (Figure 8) to the position shown at 62b (Figure 9) being pivoted about its hinged connection to the case so that the resultant position of the flap at 6212 (Figure 9) is beneath the case 32 and the Certain containers 21 are lifted pivoting movement of the flap 6 2u Subsequently the rollers 67a pick up the feed of the case 32 and the containers therein and advance it against the back side of the propelling bar 77, which is next ahead in position.

Means are provided for forcing the case 32 downwardly to its final position in telescoping relation with the containers therein, and this means takes the form of a floating roller 86 (Figures 1 and 5) positioned to be engaged by an advancing case, and supported by a pair of arms 87 from a pivot shaft 88 suitably carried by the frame. An adjustable stop screw 89 is provided forengagernent by the tail 87a of one of the arms 87 to control the lowermost position of the roller 86.

It will. be seen that this depressing or lowering of the case 32 (Figure 6) takes place ahead of a pair of 'dead plates 91 and 92 having downturned opposite edges 91a and 92a. These plates 91 and 92 provide an opening 93 through which the leading flap 61 of the case 32 enters so as to engage beneath the turned edge 92a of thedead plate 92, and be pivoted thereby about its hinged connection to the case 32 and moved from its open position to its closed position. The flap is indicated .in dotted lines at 61a as being withdrawn from the opening 93 to its closed position beneath the containers in the case.

As a case is engaged with the dead plates 91 and 92, its travel or propulsion by the conveyor 67 is; stopped and it waits momentarily until its associated propeller bar 77 of the overhead conveyor mechanism 76 catches up with it and discharges it from the first flap closing mechanism 18, and feeds it into the second flap closing mechanism 19.

The second flap closing mechanism 19 is of conventional bottom sealer construction and is illustrated schematically. It operates to apply glue to the laterally extending flaps 96 and 97 and move them from their open positions to their closed positions, and may perform this operation in any conventional manner, by means of folding plows as disclosed for example in the patent to Laub,

No. 2,734,323,-dated February 14, 1956.

The operation of the caser will be described briefly. The containers 21 as seen in Figures 1 and 3 are placed from single file into three parallel files by means of a bottle distributor mechanism 16,'and are subsequently arranged in a case array by the case array forming means 17. Subsequently a case 32 with its open end down is inserted over the containers and the case with the containers therein is fed into engagement with the first flap closing mechanism 18 including the overhead conveyor 76, and the bottom conveyor 67 which is traveling at a faster linear speed than the overhead conveyor 7 6. The feed of the case 32 is first effected by the overhead conveyor 76 to move the case 32 (Figure 6) off the dead plate '66, while it is in elevated position with respect to the upper stretch of the conveyor 67. As the case 32 moves along its rearward flap 62 springs downwardly between two adjacent rollers 67a of the bottom conveyor 67, and this rear flap 62 is caused to pivot about its hinged connection to the body of the case as seen in Figures 8 and 9 until it is beneath the containers in the case. Subsequently the case 32 is forced downwardly as seen in Figure 6 by the overhead roller 86 before its leading flap 61 enters the slot 93 provided between the dead plates 91 and 92. This leading flap 61a is thereby folded in a clockwise direction as the case 32 travels for wardly and the leading and trailing flaps are thereby positioned-underneath the containers in the case.

Subsequently case 32 is fed into the second flap folding means 19 wherein by means of a conventional plow mechanism the laterally extending flaps, with adhesive applied thereto, are folded beneath the case and "the case closing operation is completed.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention. is

capable of variation and modification fron: the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by. the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a case closing mechanism of the type wherein a case is placed open side down over a case array of containers, a frame, an overhead case conveyor on said frame, means for driving said overhead conveyor at a given rate of speed, a bottom case conveyor on said frame, means for driving said bottom conveyor at a speed faster than said given speed, said last-mentioned conveyor having means for engaging the trailing flap of a conveyor being advanced by said overhead conveyor and for carrying it forward from an extended open position to a closed position.

2. In a case closing mechanism as recited in claim 1 in which said mechanism includes means for maintaining a case elevated a distance above said bottom conveyor, and means for subsequently pushing said case downwardly to engage said bottom conveyor after advance of said trailing flap.

3. In a case closing mechanism of the type wherein a case is placed open side down over a case array of containers, a case support, an overhead case conveyor above said support including spaced case engaging elements, means for driving said overhead conveyor at a given rate of speed, a bottom case conveyor below said support and including a series of spaced apart members, means for driving said bottom conveyor at a speed faster than said given speed, means comprising one of said series of members for engaging the trailing flap of a conveyor being advanced by said overhead conveyor and for carrying it forward from an extended open position to a closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,352,899 Johnson Sept. 14, 1920 2,485,235 Graf Oct. 18, 1949 2,634,566 Ohrn Apr. 14, 1953 2,691,260 Schlemmer Oct. 12, 1954 2,734,323 Lamb Feb. 14, 1956 2,746,226 Donald May 22, 1956 2,804,738 Shenigo Sept. 3, 1957 

